The recently completed Spitfire Mk V BL628 was honoured at EAA Airventure at Oshkosh in 2008 when it was the recipient of the "Best Fighter" Award. The award, presented to the aircraft's owner, Mr Rod Lewis of San Antonio Texas, represents the culmination of the efforts of a large group of people over the past 30 years.

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Originally owned and partially restored by Peter Croser and Mike Aitchison of Australia and completed by the team at Avspecs Ltd. in Auckland New Zealand, the combat veteran Spitfire has been recognised by the judges at the event as an exceptional example of the type. The aircraft was widely featured at the show not only as a back drop for veteran pilot and well know airshow performer Bob Hoover as he entertained the crowd with stories of his time as a fighter pilot during WWII but also as the subject aircraft in the daily Warbirds in Review program.

I don't think
I can adequately thank all of you for your contributions in the
re-birth of such a magnificent P-40 !!! I am still in awe of the
airplane and am very excited to fly her once she is back in the
states. More importantly, I can't wait to share such an important
part of aviation history with the public at large......I am sure
this airplane will be a popular participant in airshows as well
as a joy for many to experience as we fly her into so many airports
across the country. Your team worked so very hard to have this wonderful
machine ready for Wanaka and I hope they were feeling very proud
of their work as they saw this beautiful airplane take to the sky
and perform so superbly with John at the controls.

Lastly, I can't
tell you what it means to me to see a childhood dream come true
thanks to all of you and your team.......the P-40 was the first
model I built as a little boy and for a long long time I have dreamed
of owning and flying a P-40. Thank you again for making such an
extraordinary and unlikely dream come true!!! Please pass my gratitude
to your team for a job superbly done!! I also want to thank you
for your hospitality and friendship that all of us feel when we
visit your wonderful country!! I will miss having a P-40 project
that keeps us connected but hopefully we will have opportunities
from time to time to meet again and enjoy our common interest in
these wonderful historical treasures!

Thank you again gentlemen!

Best Regards,
Tony

Greetings
Warren,

Congratulations
to you and your entire staff for getting another one of these marvellous
planes back into the air again. All of you should be very proud
of this achievement, as I am certain that we could never have done
this without all of you Kiwis and your expertise in restoring these
wonderful airplanes.